STYLISH German international sweeper Matthias Sammer has won the prestigious Golden Ball award organised by France Football magazine, it was announced yesterday.
The 29 year old Borussia Dortmund star beat off competition from Barcelona's young Brazilian hot shot Ronaldo and Newcastle United's England forward Alan Shearer to succeed AC Milan's Liberian striker George Weah.
Sammer, also voted the outstanding player at last summer's European Championships in England, scored a total of 144 points as he just edged Ronaldo, who totalled 141 to Shearer's 109.
It fell to a panel of 57 European leading sports journalists from 51 countries to pare down a short listed 50 players.
Sammer becomes only the third defender to win the award following legendary libero Franz Beckenbauer (twice) and Russian goalkeeper Lev Yashin.
